Thursday, October 1, 2020

Home Robotics and Telepresence Market.


Home Robotics and Telepresence Market. 

John L. Sokol  10/1/2020 

Household Robotics:


Vacuum cleaners:

iRobot (US), Neato (US), Samsung (South Korea), LG (South Korea), Ecovacs (China), Dyson (UK), bObsweep (Canada), Bissell (US), Alfred Kärcher (Germany), iLife Innovation (China), Miele (Germany), Monoprice (US) and small toy kits. 


Lawn Mower :
Robomow (Israel),  Husqvarna (Sweden), John Deere (US), 


Pool cleaners :

Maytronics (Israel),  Hayward Industries (US), 

 

LEGO (Denmark),  one of the World's most popular toys. 

 

ANKI - Now : Digital Dream Labs
https://www.digitaldreamlabs.com/

 Formerly: Anki (US) Hottest selling Toy, now out of business. 

   Vector, Palm Size robot $250 , can do crute telepresence. (remo.tv)
  Cosmo  Palm Size robot  $180?

Jibo  $900

https://jibo.com/

 

Social Robot

 

Went out of business in 2019, might be coming back.

 

 


Kubi $600.00

https://www.kubiconnect.com/

Pan and Tilt on Telepresence. 




 












BSH Hausgeräte (Germany),   -> Now Bosch?

https://www.bsh-group.com/newsroom/press-releases/mykie-a-personal-assistant-for-the-kitchen

Mykie

world of personal assistants. He responds to the user's voice by means of voice recognition. Mykie listens to the user, answers their questions and offers support for a host of everyday topics 

 

Jibo knock off?  Never commercialized?

 

 


Moxie: $1,500 + $60 a month

https://embodied.com/products/moxie-reservation   Not shipping as of 2020Q3


NOT MOBILE


looks like something ripped out of a Pixar movie. Moxie, an adorable educational robot


Pillo (US),
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pillo-your-personal-home-health-robot#/

$499. But even if you can swallow that cost, you also have to pay a $39.99 monthly subscription

Home Health And Medication Solutions, Automated pill dispenser. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Frog Robotics (France) 

  Buddy  $1700 and $2000.

In September of 2015, Buddy the social home robot closed its Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign more than 600 percent over its funding goal

patrol autonomously and secure your home
Telepresence
mathematics applications
interactive stories for children
IoT/smart home management
face recognition
alarm clock, reminder
message/photo sharing
Music
hands free call
people following
games like hide and seek (and more)
create their own apps   “BuddyLab” application.

https://www.buddytherobot.com/Mailling/2019/07_FUNDABLE/Invest%20in%20the%20Robotics%20Revolution%20with%20Blue%20Frog%20Robotics.pdf

 

 

10. What makes you confident that Buddy will be successful when Jibo, Kuri, and other social robots have not?

 

Consumer robotics is a new market. Some people think it is a tough one. But we, at Blue Frog Robotics, believe it is a path of learning, understanding, and finding new ways to serve consumers. Here are the five key factors that will make Buddy successful.

 

1) A market-fit robot

 

Blue Frog Robotics is a consumer-centric company. We know that a successful business model and a compelling fit to market Buddy must come up from solving consumers’ frustrations and problems in a way that’s new and exciting. We started from there.  

 

By leveraged existing research and syndicated consumer data sets to understand our customers’ needs and aspirations, we get that creating a robot is not about the best tech innovation and features, but always about how well technology becomes a service to one’s basic human needs and assets: convenience, connection, security, fun, self-improvement, and time. To answer to these consumers’ needs and wants, we designed an all-in-one robot with four vital capabilities: intelligence, emotionality, mobility, and customization.

 

With his multi-purpose brain, he addresses a broad range of needs in modern-day life, from securing homes to carrying out his owners’ daily activities, from helping people with disabilities to educating children, from entertaining to just becoming a robot friend.

 

Buddy is a disruptive innovative robot that is about to transform the way we live, learn, utilize information, play, and even care about our health.

 

2) Endless possibilities

 

One of the major advantages of Buddy is his adaptability. Beyond to be adorable, playful, talkative, and to accompany anyone in their daily life at home whether you are comfortable with technology or not, he offers via his platform applications to engage his owners in a wide range of activities. From fitness to cooking, from health monitoring to education, from games to meditation, the combination of intelligence, sensors, mobility, multi-touch panel opens endless possibilities for consumers and organizations to adapt their Buddy to their own needs. 

 

3) An affordable price

 

Buddy will be the first robot combining smart, social, and mobile capabilities and a developed platform with a personality to enter the U.S. market at affordable price. 

 

Our competitors are social or assistant robots but rarely both. Competitors differentiate themselves by features: mobile, non-mobile; by shapes: humanoid or not; by skills: social versus smart; targeting a specific domain like entertainment, retail assistant, eldercare, or education for children; and by price. Regarding our six competitors: Moorebot, Elli-Q, and Olly are not mobile; Lynx and Nao are in toy category; Pepper is above $10k targeting B2B market; and finally, Temi can’t be considered an emotional robot. 

Buddy remains highly differentiated as an all-in-one, best of his class experience, covering the needs for social interactions and assistance of his owners at each stage of their life at an affordable price.

 

The price range of Buddy will be between US $1700 and $2000.

https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/home-robots/interview-blue-frog-robotics-ceo

 

ASUSTek (Taiwan) - ASUS Zenbo  ($600 original estimated price) 2016

 $3,500 USD plus $100 shipping  http://www.itszenbo.com/


https://zenbo.asus.com/

 


Zenbo Junior with Amazon Alexa    18.5x18.5x31.5 cm (about a foot tall) 


Zenbo Junior is the first ASUS robot with built-in Amazon Alexa. Simply enable the Zenbo skill in the Alexa app to ask Zenbo Junior to perform basic movements – turn left, turn right or spin around. Enjoy your favorite Alexa skills as well with Zenbo Junior.




Misty Robotics:  $2000 to $3300


https://www.mistyrobotics.com/





manufacturing partner (Jetta) from our Sphero days


 

Temi (US),  $4000 

https://www.robotemi.com/
What is temi - World's first cost-effective robot that delivers groundbreaking engagement solutions for your business or personal needs utilizing temi's proprietary autonomous navigation and AI technologies

 

** HAS APP STORE **

https://market.robotemi.com/

Delivery bot, retail, kiosk, guard are most popular.  And ZOOM…

 

Loomo Segway/Ninebot (China) $1800

https://www.segway.com/loomo/

 

Self-Balancing Transporter, Telepresence , AI, Voice Assistance

22 miles in one charge.

 

Telepresence: 


Suitable Technologies

https://suitabletech.com/

Beam  : Pro $15000,  plus $2150 

  



https://www.blue-ocean-robotics.com/news/blueoceanrobotics-acquires-beam-en

The Danish “Robot Venture Factory,” Blue Ocean Robotics, has just acquired all assets and rights associated with Beam® from Suitable Technologies, Inc. in Silicon Valley.  August 2019


https://app.suitabletech.com/installers/stable 
    API (Win, Linux, Mac, Mobile) just remote control. 


Mantaro Networks

http://www.mantarobot.com/

https://www.mantaro.com/services/robotics-development.htm

 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mantaro-networks-to-begin-offering-sales-and-support-in-us-market-for-beeper-technologies-ltd-advanced-cellular-bonding-technology-ie-5000-300456364.html


$500 ? Not easy to purchase,they want to speak to each customer…  the customer must provide a tablet. 

https://telepresencerobots.com/robots/mantarobot-teleme







VGO Communications

http://www.vgocom.com/

Not easy to purchase,they want to speak to each customer…
$6000 to $7000 and $1200 annual service contract - Target is Healthcare. 



4ft tall. (1200 mm) 


Intouch Technologies


$80,000.00 + integrated cloud-based service, with a per-unit price of somewhere between $4,000 and $6,000 per month.




InTouch Vici Telehealth cart    ~ $30,000
(just a push cart with a video conference system on it)

 robotic video unit because of PTZ Camera.
Vici Telehealth Cart, and an expanded family of Viewpoint™ products including iOS Viewpoint software and tablets



Qihan Technology

https://sanbotrobotics.wordpress.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanbot_(robot)

http://www.sanbotrobot.com/  (down at this time)

http://en.sanbot.com/product/sanbot-elf/design

https://www.sanbot.co.uk/


Sanbot   (Nano $2800 2'7") , (S1 $5400) (ELF ~$12000 not sold in US) 



About Sanbot

Sanbot, affiliating to Qihan Technology Co. Ltd., is an open API cloud-enabled robotics and AI for retail, education, healthcare, hospitality, security, and other customer-oriented industries to deliver a smarter and more personalized service. Using Qihan’s “Robotics-as-a-Service” model, Sanbot is taking robotics technology into the mainstream. Sanbot’s open API, which enables developers to build Android applications that utilize Sanbot’s tremendous AI and learning capabilities, means businesses can deliver better services. Better services increase customer loyalty and satisfaction.


INTERNAL HARDWARE


Beyond Sanbot King Kong’s exterior enhancements is a strong R&D foundation and upgraded internal technology. Wielding six built-in microphones in its head, Sanbot King Kong has a strong speech recognition program that separates background noise in busy and loud areas. Stemming from QIHAN’s partnership with IBM Watson and Nuance, Sanbot King Kong is also equipped with innovative speech recognition technology and can identify and communicate in 26 different languages.


Even more notable in the field of commercial service robots, QIHAN has created the robotics industry’s first technology using multiple 3D cameras vSLAM (vision simultaneous localization and mapping). This breakthrough technology combines infrared, ultrasound and visual obstacle avoidance technology to help Sanbot King Kong efficiently map out unfamiliar environments and even avoid glass doors and falling objects.




Amy Robotics, 

http://www.amyrobotics.com
Hangzhou Amy Robotics Co. Ltd


USD  $7500 to $15000

6 Microphone, 1080p  5M night vision,
Product Highlights

Amy Robotics AMY-A2 Telepresence Robot

Features a cloud-based Intelligent problem solver robot

Provides human-machine interaction

Has Multiple identification mode

Is based on high-speed vision SLAM technology




Anybots, 

http://anybots.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anybots


QB $18000 Originally 2012, current price??




120 Units were produced and sold. 


Video conferencing on wheels 

Can't make it? Send a robot. Unlike traditional conferencing systems, QB is a telepresence robot that let's you wander around the office, a warehouse or home just as if you were there, allowing you to engage spontaneous conversations with your colleges, friends or family, with just a browser.


"Bot-in" and drive to that important meeting or be that special groomsman at your best pal's wedding!


Anybots streamlines your remote telepresence experience with WebRTC integration! All you need is a recent Chrome browser installed, no additional software, no plugin.



How it works

Virtual Presence utilizes the Internet to transmit audio & video between the pilot and his QB avatar.


The control commands are sent via a secured WebSocket. With a good connection, the latency of the video is short enough that the pilot can react with steering controls in real-time, even half way around the globe.


The QB avatar has a robust balancing platform and can operate at human height. So your interactions are natural and just as if you were standing there face-to-face.


Equipped with a LiDAR QB assists the pilot steering around obstacles while the new wheels provide stable & quieter rides.


QB has 2 high-definition cameras. The "conferencing" camera to capture the view straight ahead while talking to an encounter and the fisheye "drive" camera for a wide view while moving around, even when you are not in conferencing mood or just using Anybots' balancing unit for your own project. Read more...


A microphone captures what is being said to you while a speaker reproduces your voice on your avatar. QB has a larger LCD screen to display your live video stream or loop a video of your choice to promote a product or an event while driving QB around.


To drive QB, you use the arrow keys on your keyboard.  forward  reverse  turn left  turn right.


While it was first created for conferencing, you can adapt any project onto QB.



Wheels for the Internet of Things

Try Anybots' headless drive for your connected device! Get Anybots stand-alone base unit and build your project on top of it's sturdy self-balancing system and assisted steering. You can directly connect & drive QB within your NAT using its NEW web interface and build you own custom web app for your smartphone or laptop using our drive API.


Give your Arduino or Raspberry Pi a ride while collecting data in realtime, but it can be anything like a smartphone or a tablet.


QB self-balancing system will bear your pay-load while steering and driving through exiguous spaces and onto rough surfaces. Its integrated LiDAR prevents hard collisions and assists you driving around obstacles. Although QB is not weather proof, you can still take it for a ride outdoors on a sunny day using a 4G connection.


Read more about how QB is been used.


Meaningful applications

While Personal Users can use QB to help keep an eye on things when they cannot be there in person, Business clients can employ QB to strengthen in-office collaboration by expanding their employees’ telecommuting options.


Health & Education

Users in education and healthcare can keep QB in-facility to bring in specialists and guests. QB provides increased quality of life for those with disabilities (read Mike Phillips -spinal muscular atrophy- user story) or patients that need to momentarily stay physically away from their social environment (read Grady, age 9 -post bone marrow transplant- user story).


QB allows them to stay in touch with friends and family avoiding total social isolation that can result in a feeling of loneliness and depression.


Endless possibilities...



Endless array of flexible use models & solutions for businesses

One-to-One

A common use case for QB avatars is one avatar dedicated to one user. Many times, this is use case is employed for remote workers, as well as business managers who travel frequently and need a presence at the main office. Personal users may use the QB avatar to keep an eye on the kids while they are at work.


One-to-Many

Visit many sites in the same day by stationing QB avatars in each of them. Be virtually present in Tokyo and then London and then Moscow in a matter of seconds!


Many-to-One

One QB avatar can be utilized by any number of users at different times. Provide support for commercial or industrial equipment, or, enable remote tours of your facility by allowing users with a variety of skills or interest to operate your QB. Personal users may place a QB avatar at an elder’s home so multiple family members can visit any time.


Many-to-Many

The Anybots Virtual Presence System enables multiple persons to monitor and use multiple QB avatars. Enhance productivity of your front office receptionist or retail sales operations by pooling labor and deploying it globally!


2007-2009   Dexter and Monty first VR teleoperation, and first walking robot. 

First 2 wheel balancing (code open sourced). First single wheel balancing scooter. 

2009  QA


2011   QB

2013   Q(X)




Double Robotics,
https://www.doublerobotics.com/

    Double 3: 

      IPad on 2 balancing wheels.  Breaks Ipads.(now fixed) 

     $4000 to $4600

     SDK - IOS - https://github.com/doublerobotics/d3-sdk

NVIDIA® Jetson™ TX2-4GB System-on-Module

2 x Intel® RealSense™ D430 Stereo Vision Depth Modules

2 x 13 Megapixel 1/2.3" Camera Sensors (One wide, one zoom)

5 x Ultrasonic range finders

Intel Dual-Band Wireless-AC (2.4GHz/5GHz WiFi)

Bluetooth 4.2 Low Energy

Real-time Microcontroller and IMU for Self-Balancing

2 x Coreless DC drive motors with 2048 PPR encoders

Adjustable Motorized Height Control and Deployable Kickstands

72 Watt-Hour Smart Lithium Ion Battery

9.7-inch LED-backlit multi-touch LCD screen






Superdroid Robot

http://sdrtactical.com/   RC Tanks


Padbot -  Inbot Technology, 

Guangzhou Inbot Technology Ltd



 U2 Telepresence $1000  , P2 $1400 screen included. 



T1 Telepresence  $170 (just base, use your own phone)




Ohmni Labs

   https://ohmnilabs.com/

OHMNI ROBOT  $2200 USD



4K camera w/ 13-megapixel Snapshot and Superzoom capabilities

10.1" HD IPS touchscreen

WebRTC video Conferencing. 

95Wh LiFePO4 battery (6+ hrs)

Ohmni Glide Drive brushless motors w/ precision encoders

x1 Ohmni Charging Dock (100-240V compatible, 50/60Hz)

3D printed PLA manufacturing





Just over the horizon: 



WorkFar  (USA) Avatar Robot   $30,000

https://workfar.com/index.html



Telexistence Inc. (Japan)   Price $??

https://tx-inc.com/


https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/453705/telexistence-develops-mass-production-prototype-for-model-h-a-robot-with-remote-control-technologies


MODEL H



 Model-T



 Telexistence Inc. last month trialed using its sleek remote-controlled robot "Model-T" to restock drink shelves at a FamilyMart store in Tokyo.

 The human-sized robot, which has three-pronged hands that enable it to pick up items, is remotely operated by a "pilot" using a virtual reality terminal.


A latency of only 50 milliseconds in the end-to-end video transmission between the surrogate robot's camera and the pilot's display means there is virtually no gap between the visual and physical sensations, according to a press release by the company.


Telexistence plans to deploy the robots to up to 20 branches by 2022, eventually rolling them out to all FamilyMart stores. They will be used to automate merchandise restocking, said to account for a large chunk of the workload in convenience stores, reducing the operational burden and infection risks for employees.




---


AVATAREX, a telexistence system based on virtual avatars. AVATAREX provides means for connecting users that are simultaneously occupying the same space in the real world and its virtual replica. Using an indoor prototype implementation of AVATAREX and a simple collaborative game, we investigated how users experience co-presence in a telexistence system based on virtual avatars and measured the performance of AVATAREX on high-end smart glasses. Based on our findings, users wearing virtual reality gear reported a stronger sense of co-presence compared to users wearing augmented reality gear. Unexpectedly, users wearing smart glasses reported a lower sense of co-presence than users using a tablet for augmented reality experience.





Meltin MMI (Japan)

https://meltin.jp/


https://thebridge.jp/en/2018/10/meltin-mmi-jpy2b-funding





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